A popular local barbecue spot in Montgomery reopened last week after more than a year away.

Sam’s Bar-B-Que opened its doors January 24 at 3510 Atlanta Highway, with the restaurant welcoming back old customers along with some new ones. It serves traditional barbecue plates, sandwiches, sausages and combos alongside coleslaw and beans.

In 2013, it took second place in a vote for the state’s best barbecue. It lost the top spot in the statewide vote to the original Birmingham location of Jim ‘N Nicks, a chain that had more than 30 franchises at the time. They were the top vote-getters among 180 Alabama barbecue restaurants.

Sam’s has been around and locally owned for nearly 40 years.

“It's hard to believe over 180 barbecues were nominated. The top 32 made the bracket. And here we are in the championship round,” owner Sam Chambliss posted on Facebook at the time of the vote. “If you don't understand my surprise...just look at the size of my restaurant.”

Sam’s is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, though those hours could change as the business gets back into the groove. You can see more at facebook.com/SamsBBQofMGM.